Blue flax is a short-lived perennial with blue-green needlelike leaves on graceful 2-foot-tall stems. Satiny sky blue flowers, borne on wiry stems, appear in late spring, last through midsummer, and open fully only on sunny days. Small rounded seed heads form in summer.
Noteworthy CharacteristicsDiscovered and documented by Meriwether Lewis, in whose honor it was named.
CareGrow in lean, well-drained soil and full sun. Cut back to sedum-like basal growth in formal plantings, or leave spent flower stems behind to blend in with a naturalistic setting.
PropagationSow seed in spring or autumn.
ProblemsStem rot, rust, wilt, anthracnose, damping off, slugs, snails, and aphids.
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- Genus : Linum
- Plant Height : 1 to 3 feet
- Zones : 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
- Tolerance : Deer Tolerant
- Light : Full Sun
- Moisture : Medium Moisture
- Plant Type : Perennials
- Characteristics : Self Seeds, Showy Seed Heads
- Plant Seasonal Interest : Spring Interest
- Bloom Time : Summer
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